Birthdays

While my birthday is quickly approaching, another question crossed my mind; since when did we need to be lavished with gifts for the cause of just being born? Why do we need to receive gifts in the first place? I think that humans as a race have grown spoiled and expect to be given things. God knows how many gifts get returned to the store the next day anyway. Personally, i think of gifts as an insult. They symbolize something that, if you wanted it, you could have eventually got it on your own. I don't even like to be told happy birthday, its unnecessary and it brings unwanted attention, which i work extremely hard to avoid at all costs. So, next time someone's birthday comes up, think twice about what you might interpret as a "good gesture."